Playoff primer: QHS takes on Chicago Catholic League power St. Rita

QUINCY — Here is a closer look at the Quincy High School football team’s matchup with Chicago St. Rita:

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

What: Class 7A state quarterfinal

Where: Doyle Stadium, Chicago

Records: Quincy High School — 11-0 (6-0, first in the Western Big 6 Conference). St. Rita — 9-2 (2-1, tied for first in the Chicago Catholic League Green Division).

Radio/livestream: WGEM Streaming App (audio only), NFHS Network

Scouting the Blue Devils: One of the most prolific passing attacks in state history continues to churn out points and yards. Senior quarterback Bradyn Little has thrown for 3,841 yards and 47 touchdowns this season and sits second in IHSA history for completions (671) and passing yards (10,385). He was named a first-team Class 7A all-stater this week. 

Senior running back Jeraius Rice Jr. was named an honorable mention all-stater. He has rushed for 984 yards and 19 touchdowns while catching 52 passes for 895 yards and a team-leading 14 touchdowns. Quincy has scored on its first possession in all 11 games and is averaging 47.6 points. The Blue Devils have punted just three times all season.

“Sometimes you’re going to have to punt the ball,” QHS coach Rick Little said. “Sometimes you’re going to have to flip the field. Sometimes you have to do things we haven’t had to do. So the big thing is making sure we don’t lose our minds if it’s like, ‘Wow, this is how it works in a Chicago Catholic League game.’”

Defensively, the Blue Devils allow just 12.4 points and are led by junior linebacker Ben Schelp, who has 81 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss. 

“It really comes down to us vs. us,” Little said. “We have to execute and do what we do. If we do that, we’ll be right there.”

Scouting the Mustangs: The St. Rita program embodies tradition. The Mustangs have won two state championships and 700 games in program history, and 25 of the 30 coaches on staff are St. Rita graduates. They’ve led this group to five consecutive wins since a loss to Nazareth Academy.

During the win streak, the Mustangs have allowed nine or fewer points four times thanks to a defense led by senior linebacker Justin Buckner, who was named a first-team all-stater by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

“I like the leaders on our defense,” St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins said. “I challenge the guys evrey week. If they don’t score, they don’t win. I always say that. I put some pressure on them, and they accept the challenge.”

So does an offense that is averaging 30.3 points per game. Junior quarterback Steven Armbruster threw for 121 yards in last week’s victory over Willowbrook, and he broke the single-season school record for touchdown passes with 16.

“The thing I like most is they play together, they play for one another,” Hopkins said. “There aren’t too many selfish guys out there. They’re in it for the right reasons and they enjoy competing together.”